Rother reinvigorated

During a recent community clean-up of the River Rother, 600m of bank was cleared of nearly 50kg of rubbish, including 229 plastic, aluminium and glass drinks bottles – just over one single-use drink container every three metres. The initiative was organised by Strandliner as part of a Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) national event.

Most of the rubbish arrived from Rye and upstream paths, moorings, roads and villages, and would otherwise have polluted local beaches and the sea. On a global scale, 80% of all ocean rubbish originates from the land via rivers.

The Rother bank clean was one of 500 UK events gathering data to submit to a Government consultation on a deposit return scheme, whereby every plastic bottle could be recycled. Similar projects are already hugely successful in Norway and the US following campaigns by green groups such as SAS.

Community clean-up event participants should dress for cold and wet weather. Sturdy footwear is important. Gloves and litter pickers will be provided.

More information at ‘Rye-Bay Beachcombing’ on Facebook, or email Andy Dinsdale at [email protected]

We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.